The European Elite Boxing Championships kick off in Sofia, Bulgaria on Thursday with GB entering a strong squad packed with Commonwealth Games gold medallists.
Amy Broadhurst, a former world and European gold medalist for Ireland, will be part of the boxing squad for Great Britain.
Broadhurst, a key partner for Katie Taylor in the Irish legend’s iconic first win over Amanda Serrano, switched from Ireland to Britain ahead of Paris 2024 as she seeks to qualify for the Olympics.
These European Championships will be her first major championships since returning to competition after the birth of her son.
“It’s tough but we’re making it work and I’m very lucky to have the support around me,” Broadhurst said. Sky Sports. “He’s at the right age now where that’s possible.
“He’s coming to Bulgaria with me and he comes to Sheffield every other week with me,” she continued. “Those weeks are tough because you’re doing two jobs then.
“This is my last shot at the Olympics. So they know after this it’s all said and done.”
These Europeans will be a key step in a journey she hopes will eventually take her to LA 2028. But her return to boxing has already been eventful. The first match on her return earlier this year saw her drawn against her old team.
“My first game in two years was against Ireland. So it was a crazy situation,” she said.
“I was trying to control my feelings because obviously a lot of things went on with that whole situation.
“I knew I was going to be fine. But there was a lot of bad feelings from both of them. I think I handled it very well. I reached out to the coach and showed respect. That was probably the main thing, not to get caught up in the emotional part of it. It was in, box and move on. It was like closing the chapter for him.”
Amy Broadhurst with her 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal.
She didn’t box Ireland’s lightweight then, but it could happen in Sofia. Kellie Harrington, Ireland’s two-time Olympic champion, has entered these Europeans.
“I was her sparring partner for the 2021 Games,” Broadhurst said. “They brought me to Tokyo.
“We have shared the ring many times and it would be a spicy fight.
“You can date each other,” Broadhurst noted. “You just don’t know what’s going to happen.
“I’ll take it one fight at a time.”